Lana Del Rey Song teaches figurative language
It’s been 10 years since American artist Lana Del Rey dated Born to Die, the album that made her a star. Since then, the singer-songwriter has released six more records, including two last year.
Today in Everyday Grammar we’re going to explore the figurative language used in a song from Del Rey’s 2021 album, Blue ramps. The song, Arcadiais full of comparisons, metaphors and even affixed as metaphors.
“My body is a map of LA
I stand straight as a angelwith a Halo…
…In Arcadia, Arcadia
All the paths that lead to you like integral to me like arteries
That pump the blood that runs straight to the heart of me
America, America…”
We can start by discussing some basic structures in similes, metaphors, and appositives.
Similar
You may have learned from a previous Everyday Grammar report that comparisons use the words “like” or “like” to describe an indirect comparison between two nouns. Comparisons can use linking verbs such as “to be”. Comparisons can also use the preposition “like” or the adverb “like” to make the comparison.
For example:
Her hair is golden like the sun.
In this example, we use “is” as a linking verb and “like” as a preposition to describe her hair, comparing it to the golden color of the sun.
We could also use “like” for this sentence, but the meaning and structure are different.
Her hair is as golden as the sun.
We use the adverb “like” to compare the amount or level to which something is like something else.
Metaphors
Metaphors are similes using the linking verb “to be”. Since there is no preposition or adverb, the comparison between the two nouns is more direct.
Metaphors are always considered figurative language, so the meaning is not literaleven if there is a direct comparison.
Let’s take an example.
The vacation was a dream.
In this example, we are comparing the vacation to a dream. We use the linking verb “to be” in the past tense.
We know the vacation wasn’t a dream; it happened. This metaphor means that the vacation was really nice or relaxing.
Appositives as metaphors
Appositives are nominal nouns or phrases that go next to another noun (sometimes the subject) in a sentence to describe it.
For example, we can say:
Lana Del Rey, the famous singer, released two albums last year.
The adjective in this sentence is “famous singer” and describes the subject, Lana Del Rey.
If we use commas around the appositive, the information is not needed, but it creates more meaning. If we don’t use commas, the information is needed. We need it to fully understand the sentence.
Singer Lana Del Rey has sold millions of albums.
In this sentence, we need the appositive, Lana Del Rey, to know who the singer is. We don’t need commas.
Sometimes we can use the appositive structure to create a metaphor.
Let’s use our previous metaphor to create an appositive metaphor structure:
The vacation, a dream, was so relaxing.
Here, the metaphor is always the same, but we use an appositive structure. Holidays are our subject, and the dream is the appendix. It gives more information metaphorically about holidays.
Arcadia
Now let’s watch the beginning of Del Rey’s song Arcadiafrom her blue ramps album for metaphors, similes and appositives as metaphors.
“My body is a map of LA
I stand straight as an angel, with a halo…”
The first line of the song is a metaphor!
“My body is a map of LA…”
Lana compares herself to a map of Los Angeles, a city in California where she lives.
Note the linking verb “is”. It connects the subject to the rest of the metaphor.
In the next line we can see that there is another structure that we know about, a comparison.
“I stand straight as a angelwith a Halo…”
Lana compares her posturestanding, to an angel.
These two lines are connected because Los Angeles is known as the “City of Angels”.
And finally, we have another simile and an appositive as a metaphor.
“In Arcadia, Arcadia
All the paths that lead to you like integral for me like arteries
That pump the blood that runs straight to the heart of me
America, America…”
The simile, “All the roads that lead to you are an integral part of me like arteries,” likens the roads she travels to the arteries that circulate blood through her body. She uses the adverb “like” to describe that the roads are just as important to keeping her alive as the system of her heart and arteries.
The affixed structure is not so clear based on the line structure, but from Lana singing the lyrics, we can understand that she is also comparing her heart to America.
“…in the heart of me America, America…”
Here, the appendix of his heart and America serves as a metaphor. She says her heart is America.
We know from many of Lana’s lyrics that “Americana” or American cultural ideas are very important to her music.
Final Thoughts
Today we looked at several types of figurative language in Arcadia. This song is filled with other similes that use the adverb “like” and the preposition “like”, metaphors using the linking verb “to be” and appositive structures.
Let’s end this report with some homework. Listen carefully to some favorite songs in English. Look for examples of similes, metaphors or appositives and write them down. Then play with words! We think learning to use figurative language in English is always more fun with a soundtrack!
I am Faith Pirlo.
Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
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words in this story
decade – nm a period of 10 years
Arcadia – nm a city in the U.S. state of California near Los Angeles
ramps – nm handrails on stairs, steps or a balcony
figurative – adj.. abstract or symbolic, or not literal
comparisons – not. a sentence that uses the words like or like to describe someone or something by comparing it with someone or something else that is similar
metaphors – not. a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing to show that they are similar
affixed – not. nominal nouns or phrases that go directly next to another noun (sometimes the subject) in a sentence to describe it.
angel – not. a spiritual being who primarily serves as a messenger of God or guardian of human beings
Halo – not. a circle of light which is shown in a religious painting, drawing, etc., around the head of a holy figure (such as an angel, saint or god) – often used figuratively
integral – adj. necessary, important or essential
arteries – nm major pathways in the body that help move blood with oxygen from the heart throughout the body.
literal – adj.. implying the ordinary or usual meaning of a word
relaxing – adj.. relaxing and pleasant
posture – not. the way your body is positioned when you sit or stand